BULUKUTU'S FORMIDABLE FORCE

By Steve Kumalonje

And the terrain changed following Bulukutu’s rise to the most taxing job of commanding the whole Police Force in Mchenachena.

“It is not with the usual pomp and glamour that I have convened this meeting, ladies and gentlemen. This is not a passing-out parade. Neither is it a Force Day to showcase to the public what we do and what we are capable of doing given the necessary resources and support. Rather something urgent and serious has forced me to invite you all this morning. I demand your attention and action,” said the irritated Chief Constable.

My frequent OB covering of police functions as a reporter for K24 TV had earned me the title of ‘police partner’ in the newsroom. Nonetheless, it was in the course of my duty that I came to realize being an Inspector General of the Force, a Chief Constable, is no simple job as you and I would imagine. That title takes away one’s peace of mind. That rank takes away one’s sleep. That position demands performance on the ground. In short, it is a dreaded post not meant for the frail hearted who may sway and go with the direction of the wind with no trouble.

“You and I know that for a long time our work has come under heavy public scrutiny. For a long time, we have been judged in a number of ways depending on our performance, depending on how we carry our image out there when conducting investigations and when effecting arrests,” articulated the annoyed Chief Constable.

“For a long time we have had the unwavering support of Capitol Hill. For a long time we have gained the support of members of the public who have tirelessly and confidentially given us information of the hard core criminals in their communities, thereby easing our work in the process. For a long time, we have built the confidence and trust of the people in us. At the same time, we have also gained nothing but notoriety from the people who we may not have assisted properly when they came knocking at our door seeking help. At the same time, we may not have pleased everyone with how we conducted ourselves when effecting arrests, when carrying out searches and when employing ‘reasonable’ force.”

“You ask how reasonable is reasonable force? They all ask the same question but it is not for them to understand how we operate since we have a Force Act and the Penal Code which direct our operations. Nevertheless, that should not be an excuse for us to take the law in our hands and go overboard. We are servants of the people; the people are our masters and no one is above the law, not even you-know-who.”

“I have convened this meeting not with the usual pomp and glamour, ladies and gentlemen. I bleed in my heart of hearts to perceive that there is a public outcry with regard felony. I bleed in my heart of hearts that the nuclei of such offenses are the very men who are supposed to serve and protect the citizens. Verily they say man is a walking mask!”

“For the colleagues involved in these crimes, I know you and I will deal with you one by one until you are wiped out from the Force completely. I cannot let you continue denting the image and reputation of the Mchenachena Police Force. Neither can I let you go scot free in the name of protecting you. As I speak, ‘friends’ who have been conniving with other criminals have been caught and arrested promptly this very morning. They will face the law as everybody does. ‘Operation elimination’ is here to stay.”

“And for the unpatriotic civilians out there involved in these crimes, we know them and the long and forceful arm of the law is bringing them down one by one as evidenced by the numerous arrests in recent days. Mchenachena is but a tiny dot; they cannot run and hide for long. They will all be smoked out like rats in the face of a starving hunter. It’s just a matter of time before they are all eliminated.” The Chief Constable spoke with a rising pitch.

“And for the rest of us in this room, don’t ask what the Force can do for us; rather let’s ask ourselves what we can do for the Force and of course the nation. Let me make it clear- pretty clear ladies and gentlemen -that my office will not award mediocrity by bulletproofing anyone. Neither should you shield anyone, be it a friend or relative. Whether we bring our wayward friends to justice, or bring justice to our wayward friends, justice will be done and Mchenachena will be free from crime again,” the IG, Nangaunozge Visanza Bulukutu, spoke with finality.

That emergency meeting summoned by the practiced, well-read and sincere Police Chief and attended by all senior and junior ranked officers at the Force Headquarters yielded results as the men in uniform made one significant resolve to be more assertive in their approach to policing, not to let anything or anyone deter their investigations and not to succumb to any demands so long as they were acting within the law.